A MAN was unconscious for at least 36 hours - and sustained a fractured skull and brain injury - after being attacked at Elements nightclub in Hinckley, a court heard.

Julian Mghabqhan was repeatedly kicked to the head as he lay seriously injured on the floor and had only recently recovered “to a significant degree”, said prosecutor John Hallissey.

Mr Hallissey told Leicester Crown Court an unknown person initially attacked Mr Mghabqhan but David Colin Bower was seen to “kick him repeatedly to the head.”

After Bower had been ejected by door staff, he picked up a metal post and brandished it at them.

Twenty-one-year-old Bower, of West Street, Earl Shilton, and three co-defendants appeared in the dock on Friday (March 25) after being sent by Hinckley magistrates for sentence.

Bower, who had 13 convictions for 25 offences, including assault, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Mghabqhan, causing bodily harm on November 5 last year, and using threatening behaviour while on bail.

He was sentenced to and total of 3 years eight months imprisonment, having already served 135 days in custody on remand.

Bower also admitted jointly causing bodily harm to Christopher Sheppard in a separate incident outside the same nightclub, in the early hours of February 14 last year, as well as using threatening behaviour towards Reuben Moore in a Hinckley kebab shop on the same date.

Nettleton and Gascoine-Smith further admitted using threatening behaviour in the kebab shop, with Bower, shortly before 4am on February 14.

All four defendants ran from outside the shop when police arrived but about four minutes later were seen on CCTV fighting near Elements nightclub, said Mr Hallissey

Their victim, Mr Sheppard, was pinned to the floor and received facial injuries around his eyes after being kicked and punched by three people while on the ground.

Bower was found a couple of minutes later and arrested. Garner, who told police he had drank about 10 pints, was discovered trying to hide behind a group of friends.

Nettleton, who had four previous convictions for six offences, including two for assault, was given a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, with 18 months supervision and a three-month 7pm-7am curfew and told to attend a Covaid programme (Control of Violence for Angry Impulsive Drinkers).

Gascoine-Smith, of previous good character, was sentenced to a 12-month community order, with 12 months supervision and 150 hours of unpaid work.

Garner, who has been in prison for offences of affray and assault causing actual bodily harm, was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, with 18 months supervision and a 7pm-7am four-month curfew.

Gary Short, mitigating for Bower, acknowledged his client had a poor record and an anger management problem. But he said he was drunk and angry after the break-up of a long-standing relationship.

He worked as an orderly in the prison hospital – “one of the most trusted positions an inmate can have.”

Philip Gibbs, for Garner, said he committed the offence while in drink. He and his girlfriend were expecting a child in September and he had a strong work ethic.

Mitigating for Nettleton, Paul Mytton said his client had taken part in anger management sessions and been described as “honest, polite and helpful.”

Mr Gibbs, who also mitigated for Gascoine-Smith, said he worked hard as an agency worker for Caterpillar. He added: “He has made a serious mistake. He has lived with that mistake for a long time.”

Passing sentence, Judge Sylvia De Bertodano said all except Garner were involved in an incident at the kebab shop on Reuben Moore. “It ended when you all punched him and bundled him outside.”

Regarding the attack outside the nightclub, the judge said: “It is a serious matter when four people attack one person, bringing him to the ground, and go on attacking him.”

The victim received cuts to his face, grazes and bruises and a chipped tooth.

The judge told Garner the curfew would mean that for the next four months “you will effectively be a prisoner in your own home.”

The judge said Mr Mghabqhan may never fully recover. She accepted his serious injuries could not be attributed to Bower, because they may have been caused before he was involved, but she told Bower: “You were using your foot as a weapon to his head.”